|
1860
|
|
|
|
Apr
10th |
John L. Gardner and Isabella Stewart are married in New
York and move into a house at 152 Beacon Street in Boston
(a wedding gift from her father).
|
| 1884 |
|
| |
May |
While travelling
in Venice, the Gardner's visit the Palazzo Barbaro (on subsequent
journeys to Venice, the Gardners would sublet the Palazzo Barbaro,
which served as a major inspiration for Fenway Court). |
| 1891 |
Isabella Stewart Gardner's father dies, leaving her an estate
valued at $1.75 million. |
| 1892 |
Vermeer's The
Concert is purchased at a Paris auction. |
| 1894 |
Isabella Stewart Gardner purchases Botticelli's Tragedy of
Lucretia, her first major Italian work, with the help of
advisor Bernard Berenson. |
| 1896 |
 |
Isabella and "Jack"
Gardner acquire Titian's Europa and Rembrandt's Self-Portrait,
the first painting that Isabella Stewart Gardner buys with the
intention of developing a museum. |
| 1898
|
|
| |
Dec |
John
L. Gardner dies. Isabella Stewart Gardner purchased land for
the museum in the Fenway area of Boston (subsequent purchases
were made in April and July 1899 and in February 1900). At that
time there were no buildings along the Fens. |
| 1899 |
Architect, Willard
T. Sears, draws up plans, and construction of Fenway Court begins
in June. |
| 1900 |
|
|
|
Dec
19th |
Certificate of incorporation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner
Museum in the Fenway, Inc. |
| 1902 |
Isabella Stewart Gardner devotes
the entire year to installing the collection. Mrs. Gardner moves
into fourth-floor living quarters, where she lives until her
death in 1924. |
| 1903 |
|
|
|
Jan 1st |
Isabella Stewart
Gardner first opens her Museum with an evening reception and
concert by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. |
|
|
Feb 23rd |
First public viewing
day at the Museum. Admission price: $1.00. |
| 1914 |
|
|
Feb |
Mrs. Gardner begins
alterations to Fenway Court: the Music Hall is converted to
the Tapestry Room and Spanish Cloister; the Chinese Room is
remodeled as the Early Italian Room; a new Chinese Room is built
on first floor, south side (dismantled, 1971). |
| 1924 |
Isabella Stewart
Gardner dies July 17, 1924. |
| 1925 |
|
| |
Feb 15th |
Museum re-opens
to the public under the Museum's first Director, Morris Carter
(hand-picked by Mrs. Gardner). |
| 1927 |
Sunday concert
series established under the direction of Morris Carter as an
experiment to "make the museum more accessible and more
attractive." |
| 1989 |
Anne Hawley, current
Norma Jean Calderwood Director, appointed Director of the Isabella
Stewart Gardner Museum |
| 1990 |
|
| |
Mar 18th
|
On the night of
March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police
officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed
the galleries, stealing thirteen works of art, including: Rembrandt's
Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633), A Lady and Gentleman
in Black (1633) and a Self-Portrait (1634); Vermeer's
The Concert (1658-1660); Govaert Flinck's Landscape
with an Obelisk (1638); five drawings by the Impressionist
artist Edgar Degas; and Edouard Manet's Chez Tortoni
(1878-1880). The works have not yet been recovered. The $5 million dollar reward leading to the return of the art works is, as yet, unclaimed. |
| 1992 |
Director Anne Hawley
creates innovative "Artist-in-Residence" program to
support and showcase living artists and highlight the collection
as inspiration. |
| 1996 |
Museum launches
innovative "School Partnerships Program," creating
unique, sustained collaborations among Museum educators, visiting
artists and schools. |
| 2002 |
|
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum welcomes first "Scholar-in-Residence"
Curator of Education, Margaret Burchenal, named "Art
Educator of the Year" by National Association for Arts
Education
New Saturday afternoon programming, "Saturdays at the
Gardner," begins with premiere performance by former
Artist-in-Residence and jazz artist Stefon Harris
|
| 2003-2004 |
Isabella Stewart
Gardner Museum marks 100 years of Imagination. Inspiration.
& Innovation. with a Centennial celebration of historic
and contemporary art, music, education and horticulture. |
